Literary Analysis

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Literary Analysis Close Reading Assignment
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The Butterfly Effect
Did you know that each of these shows and /or
movies has been influenced by Bradburys story A
Sound of Thunder, the story we are now reading
in class?
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The Butterfly Effect
The phrase refers to the idea that a butterfly's
wings might create tiny changes in the atmosphere
that may ultimately alter the path of a tornado
or delay, accelerate or even prevent the
occurrence of a tornado in another location. The
flapping wing represents a small change in the
initial condition of the system, which causes a
chain of events leading to large-scale
alterations of events. Had the butterfly not
flapped its wings, the trajectory of the system
might have been vastly different.
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The Butterfly Effect

• To understand the concept, lets first start with
  something we already know, like the domino
  effect.
• As the world runs out of oil, gas prices will
  rise.
• When this happens, prices for specialized items
  of import and export (coffee) will eventually
  rise.
• Food prices will then rise.
• The price of products that require oil to make
  them will also rise.
• The Butterfly Effect is similar, except that we
  cannot see what causes what. We know that small
  things can effect entire systems.

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Objectives Students will practice identifying
and critiquing literary elements in A Sound of
Thunder. Requirements While reading, document
multiple examples of literary devices. For each
literary device identified, explain in a sentence
or two why you think it is effective /good
writing. 1. Imagery (sights, sounds, smells,
tastes, feelings) 2. Simile - A comparison of
two unlike things using the words like or as.
Ex. Juliet is like a jewel. 3. Metaphor A
comparison of two unalike things not using like
or as. Ex. Juliet is the sun. 4.
Onomatopoeia When words sound like what they
mean. Ex. Boom! Pow! Zoom! Clank! 5.
Personification Giving human characteristics to
something not human. Ex. The wind screamed
through the forest of trees and whipped the
leaves off of their branches.
Literary Device Review
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Elements of Style Very Important!
Bradbury is extremely proud (and with good cause)
of his description of the T-Rex. About this
section Bradbury has stated, I say to the
audience Im going to stop you here okay?...and
you know what Im going to do? Im going to
describe a dinosaur as it has never been
described. Now watch this. And then I sit down
and write a prose poem about this wonderful
creature that comes gliding out the jungle.
What effect do the literary devices have on the
reader? How do they give us insight as to what
the narrator would be feeling?
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Critical Thinking
What is the purpose of the antigravity path? How
then are they allowed to hunt if they cant step
on the grass? If they do not want to kill a
mouse, then why a TREX? Isnt this also
problematic? What does the theme of this story
seem to be so far? Make some predictions as to
what might happen.
How serious of a problem is it that Eckels jumps
off the path? Why does he do it? In what rather
grotesque detail does the author describe the
final moments of the beast? Is this good writing?
Why or why not? Why is Travis angry at Eckles?
Is this thematic?
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The Butterfly Effect A Sound of Thunder
The idea that one butterfly could eventually have
a far-reaching ripple effect on subsequent
historic events seems first to have appeared in
A Sound of Thunder, a 1952 short story by Ray
Bradbury about time travel. The Butterfly
Effect is now a common clichéd plot device
however, Bradbury was the first to use the idea
in fiction.
Special Note
In German the name (Deutscher) means German.
This story was written right after WWII when
Hitlers Germany was considered the ultimate
example of evil, not only because of the
holocaust, but in a political sense because they
were so different from us. They had long had a
dictatorship while we have had a democracy.
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The Grand Finale
Tyme SefarI Inc. Sefaris tu any yeer en the
past. Yu naim the animall. Wee taektuthair. Yu
shoot it.
The story concludes with an eerie, twilight zone
type of ending, not only for Eckles, but also for
the reader. How does Bradbury use his theme to
shock his reader in the end of this story?
Why would this sign be disturbing for a
contemporary reader shortly after World War II?
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Elements of Plot Diagram
Complete a plot diagram for this story.

Climax most exciting/suspenseful moment
Complications new problems arise
Falling Action Winding down
Basic Situation/Expositionconflict is introduced
Resolution problems are resolved
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Somebody Wants However Therefore

Write a paragraph about A Sound of Thunder
using the Somebody Wants However Therefore
model.
Example Somebody Wants However Therefore
Harry Potter wants to learn about his parents, be happy, and make friends. However, he must protect himself from the dangers he faces at Hogwarts. Therefore, he learns how to use his powers for good and to protect himself and his friends.
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Somebody Wants However Therefore Paragraph

Somebody who - the individual or character
wants what
However, complications, problems, or conflict
Therefore, solution, outcome, or resolution
Somebody Wants However Therefore
A Sound of Thunder Eckles or Travis (pick one)